Steal big, young thug

Here’s a tip to Oceanside criminals: Don’t try to rob numerous houses, in the same neighborhood, on the same day, in broad daylight.

On the afternoon of July 7, Oceanside police started receiving 911 calls from an area in the eastern part of the city. Within an hour, 109 calls were received from the neighborhood on North Santa Fe Avenue near Melrose Drive

Arriving police quickly determined at least five residential burglaries had occurred, and one attempted break-in. At one point a burglary-in-progress was reported.

Residences on Crestview Drive, Hollins Road, Powell Road, Sable Court, Sagewood Drive, and Sunbright Drive were hit.

According to police spokesperson Lt. Leonard Cosby, the sheriff’s helicopter spotted two possible suspects. They were arrested in the area, where police also found most of the stolen loot, which was hidden along with some guns.

The next day, on July 8, Oceanside police investigators and gang units contacted three additional suspects. Two additional juveniles, ages 16 and 17, were arrested.